Method and apparatus for sterilizing cartons and breaking carton score lines

Apparatus for sterilizing and breaking score lines on cartons comprising:

• conveyor means for intermittently advancing a carton having a preformed bottom and upright walls defining an interior and score lines on the upright walls;
• a spraying assembly for spraying a solution of hydrogen peroxide into the interior of the carton to sterilize the carton, said spraying assembly including a spray head, said spray head being provided with a spray nozzle through which hydrogen peroxide solution is delivered for being sprayed into the interior of the carton;
• and
• a score line breaking assembly for breaking score lines on the carton, said score line breaking assembly including an anvil carried on the spray head for being positioned in the interior of the carton adjacent to a carton score line, a movably mounted breaker member for breaking score lines on the walls of the carton, and drive means operatively connected to said breaker member for moving said breaker member from one position in which the breaker member is spaced from an upper portion of the carton walls to another position in which the breaker member is in contact with the upper portion of the carton walls to urge the upper portion of the carton walls inwardly and thereby break the score lines on the carton walls.